Category: Ask Our Experts

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The Science of Dog Nutrition

Scientifically formulated pet food is crucial for your pet’s well-being because they need food with the recommended quantity of proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and fats, says Ganesh Ramani

Do you think of your pet as an animal? Or as a member of the family? Most likely, it’s the latter – and this is the overwhelmingly prevalent emotion across pet parents. For instance, dogs were once viewed only as guard animals but today they’re among the most loved family members. Alongside, pet adoption is growing fast due to urbanisation and an increase in disposable income among middleclass households.

According to market research agency Euromonitor, India is home to an estimated 19 million pets – of which 80% are dogs. Cat adoption, too, is rising as people see them as companions and shrug off the superstitions surrounding them. As pet ownership rises, so does the growth of the pet food and care market. However, the change in mindset about pet nutrition is still a work in progress. Most owners prefer to feed pets home cooked meals rather than scientifically formulated pet food bought from stores. While homecooked, they do not satisfy the calorific or nutritional needs of pets.

The typical parent finds it difficult to make a nutritionally balanced meal for the pet at home; it needs to be formulated by a vet or board-certified veterinary nutritionist with a command over various aspects of pet nutrition. Just as humans have specific nutritional needs for proper development and wellbeing, so do cats and dogs. Both species are inherently carnivorous and hence their dependence on protein is greater than ours. Despite the fact that dogs have adapted to become omnivores, as pet parents it’s our duty to ensure that they get food that’s with the recommended quantity of proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and fats. Cats, on the other hand, are obligatory carnivores and their needs cannot be satisfied through a vegetarian diet. Manufactured pet food is available in three categories: dry, semi-moist and canned. Dry food is the most common and is generally produced using a process called extrusion through which ingredients are turned into kibble. The ingredients are mixed, sheared and heated under high pressure. Whether it’s for everyday feeding, for specific life stage requirements or even to support pets with a clinical condition, scientifically manufactured food takes care of all your pet’s needs.

Essential nutrients in manufactured pet food are delivered by including flesh and organ meats (liver, heart, kidney) as well as fatty bits. These are classified as animal derivatives. Only materials from animals certified as suitable for human consumption at the time of slaughter are permitted. This means that all the meat and animal derivatives used in pet food comes from the same food processing chain as the meats sold for human consumption.

According to The WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute, the amount of pet food you give should be based on the number of calories for the specific pet. Cats and dogs require about 40 essential nutrients, each in the right form, ratio and the right amount to deliver complete nutrition. The pet food packaging guide is designed to support healthy body weight and provide complete and balanced nutrition at a calorie intake that’s appropriate for the activity level and life stage. The guides are designed to provide information to owners about how much to feed their pets. However, every pet has specific energy requirements, so owners must adjust how much they feed their pet according to individual needs, such as age and activity level.

As a pet parent, you must look at all options by researching everything you need to know about caring for and feeding your pet. With so many options available, it is advisable to consult your vet on your pet’s food and nutritional requirements.

– Ganesh Ramani is the General Manager, Mars Petcare. He has been with the company since July 2012. Prior to this role, he served as a Sales and Marketing Director. Prior to MARS Petcare, he has worked at companies such as Samsung, Colgate Palmolive (I) Ltd and Asian Paints. He has worked in diverse business environment with RTM Models and organizational cultures. With an experience of 21 years, Ganesh Ramani is a business and P&L Head with strong experience in Sales, Marketing and People Management.

At MARS Petcare, his contribution has led a niche Pet Speciality business to evolve into one with strong presence in Ecommerce, Modern Grocery and General Trade. Ganesh has played a key role in transforming MARS Petcare into a Digital First organisation with a strong focus on digital marketing and a digitised route to market. He trusts that his organisation is customer centric that leaves an impact on the Petcare Ecosystem. Under his leadership, the company has built a high-performance culture & strong talent pipeline.

He completed his Bachelors in Technology – Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, and holds a Master’s degree from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. He is currently based out of Hyderabad, Telangana. In his spare time, he likes spending time with his family, reading and long walks. He is inspired by the quote “Leave things better than you found them”.

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The Right to Nature

Nature is for all and not for some, so we need to work towards peaceful coexistence with animals, says Gopal Krishan, BJP Spokesperson

People use animals to serve their own vested interests without realising that everyone has equal rights on nature, said Gopal Krishan Aggarwal, National Spokesperson of the BJP, and an animal lover. He has been running a Goshala for stray cows in Noida for the last 20 years and also regularly feeds stray dogs in his locality. During the peak coronavirus days, he arranged 200kg khichadi for the dogs on a daily basis. He spoke to Buddy Life magazine about his love for animals and the need for social awareness. Here are excerpts from the interview:

Awareness towards animal rights is on the rise, still a lot has to be done. What do you say?

People need to understand that human beings and animals have equal rights as far as nature is concerned. It’s theirs as much as ours. Because of his intellect, man has occupied the space of even animals. So, there is always a conflict of space and natural resources between human beings and animals. Now people have to understand that when they have grabbed animals’ spaces, it is their duty to care for them. This is what we have to make them aware of. Some awareness has taken place but more is needed.

During lockdown, incidents of abandoning pets increased at an alarming level. What should be done so that such incidents do not take place again?

Abandoning pets is cruelty. They are sensitive souls and when they are abandoned, they are heartbroken and traumatised and they weep and cry for their caretakers and masters. Sometimes they get hurt so badly that they become violent. Abandoning a cow is a cognizable offence. That should also apply for other animals. We need law and action both for it. But we don’t need activism to improve the attitude of the people. We need awareness, as awareness brings the sense of love while activism creates differences. I want people to come out and get together to do something good to animals.

There are very few animal shelters in the country. Do you think there is a need to increase these?

Of course. We need more animal shelter homes but more important is their maintenance. The Government should also understand its responsibility towards, animals. They should create more animal shelter homes, which also manage their diet. It has been seen that shelter homes are there but they don’t have food and other supplies needed for the animals. So, it is the duty of both the Government and the society to take care of the animals.

What should be done to make people aware about their social responsibility towards the animals?

Four steps, I consider, should be taken. First, in societies and colonies, the RWAs should take responsibility for their food with the help of locals in their areas. Second, animals like dogs and cats should be sterilized. Dogs should also be given anti-rabies shots. Apart from the Government, people should also share this responsibility. Thirdly, shelter homes by the Government and society both should be built on a regular basis. Fourthly, people should learn how to coexist with the animals instead of getting scared of them.

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Annoying Babesiosis in Dogs

Babesia gibsoni is a tickborne protozoal blood parasite that causes hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, lethargy, and splenomegaly in dogs
TEXT: Yung-Tsun Lo D.V.M., Ph.D, Bioguard Corporation

Canine babesiosis occurs worldwide and results from infections with a variety of Babesia spp., tickborne hemoprotozoa. Based on their morphology, Babesia spp. are classified into the small Babesia group (trophozoites of 1-3 μm; including B. gibsoni, B. microti, and B. rodhaini), and the large Babesia group (3-7 μm; including B. canis, B. volgeli, B. rossi, etc.). The distribution of the canine Babesia species is greatly affected by the presence of tick species in the area. B. gibsoni has been recognized as an important pathogen that affects dogs of all ages in Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe, and many areas of the United States.

The Transmission

The primary transmission mode of B. gibsoni to dogs is by infected ticks during feeding, and this transmission requires 2-3 days. The transmitted tick vectors include Haemaphysalis bispinosa and H. longicornis (asian longhorned tick or cattle tick), and possibly by Rhipicephalus sanguincus (brown dog tick) in different countries. In addition, transmission can also occur through blood exchange when dogs fight or transfusion. Transplacental transmission (to unborn puppies in the uterus of their mothers) is also thought to occur because B. Gibsoni has been detected in puppies as young as three days old. With the expansion of tick habitats, the spread of parasites into new geographical areas has been an increasing problem worldwide.

The Symptoms

The disease is more severe in young dogs, immunosuppressed dogs, heavily parasitized dogs, and when there is exposure to a virulent strain or concurrent infection. Infected dogs may exhibit either peracute, acute, subclinical or chronic signs of disease. Clinical signs present are ambiguous, which includes depression, lethargy, fever, weakness, vomiting, pale gums and anorexia. However, other specific signs include dark colouration of the urine, neurological dysfunction, respiratory failure, jaundice, and sometimes presence of bleeding diathesis. Severe cases may lead to organ failure and death. However, some cases during the initial stages appear to be unnoticed to the pet owners. On the other hand, chronic stages often make the dog a carrier of the organism and become asymptomatic, and for how long a dog will be a carrier is unknown. Some dogs remain asymptomatic carriers of parasites, presenting high antibody titers for a period as long as one year. The asymptomatic infected animals facilitate the transmission of parasites to tick vectors. Dogs may develop clinical babesiosis several times during their lifetimes.

The diagnosis

Blood smear examination is a useful diagnostic tool for clinical babesiosis in dogs. Microscopy evaluation continues to be the easiest and most accessible diagnostic test for most veterinarians. However, the blood smear examination presents a low sensitivity in assisting the veterinarian in making a positive diagnosis. Serologic or antibody testing can confirm previous exposure to B. gibsoni. Antibody reaction to the B. gibsoni can be measured by ELISA in the lab, or by a lateral flow immunochromatographic test (or rapid test) in the clinic. This rapid test has been commonly assisting the veterinarians for fast diagnosis. A positive test result is dependent on an antibody response by the infected dog, which may take up to ten days to develop. Once a dog has developed antibodies to babesiosis, they may persist for years and this must be considered when performing follow-up tests. Molecular diagnostic assays (PCR or real-time quantitative PCR) have been widely used for the diagnosis of babesiosis. These molecular diagnostic methods have greatly increased the sensitivity and specificity of Babesia detection. The detection of DNA for a specific pathogen in a clinical setting can be considered evidence of an active – and therefore ongoing – infection.

The Treatment

A combination therapy of azithromycin and atovaquonehas been widely applied to eliminate or suppress parasite numbers of B. gibsoni below detectable levels in the majority of dogs with no adverse reaction. Other optional treatment for dogs infected with for B. gibsoni is using triple antibiotic combinations of doxycycline, clindamycin, and metronidazole or combinations of doxycycline, enrofloxacin, and metronidazole. Supportive treatment is required for moderate to severe babesiosis, such as blood transfusions for severe anemia. PCR testing can be conducted to assess response to therapy, but serologic testing is not suited for this purpose.

The Re-infection

The same dog can be re-infected by identical Babesia species, including B. gibsoni, or coincidentally with a second species. Although the clinical consequences of re-infections are not well defined, in endemic regions, it is possible for dogs to be chronically infected, in a premunition phase, without clinical consequences; this phase may even be beneficial in terms of protecting against future infection.

The Prevention

Vaccines against B. gibsoni are currently being developed. The most effective preventive measure is avoiding exposure to the vector. This should be considered when deciding to take a dog from non-endemic into (highly) endemic areas. As a pet owner, regular control of the tick vectors by routinely dipping or spraying pets or using tick collars or spot-on preparations is the best way of preventing this disease. Regular examination of dogs to remove ticks soon after they attach is also important as it takes a minimum of 48 hours before Babesia transmission occurs. In addition, preventing dogfighting as well as direct blood contact by using sterilized instruments during tail docking and ear cropping procedures and when administering injections are critical. Good screening measures should be established for potential blood donors to prevent the disease from spreading.

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Feeding Fido

Dogs are super resilient, but that doesn’t mean we can nutritionally abuse them by not feeding them their speciesappropriate diets, says Manssi Saha

Confused about what puppy food to choose? Good! This means no particular advertising or marketing has ‘gotten’ to you yet! This is good news for your puppy and for you. Let’s break the suspense right away: There is no processed ‘Puppy Food’ you should choose from. There is a variety of foods, ingredients, micronutrients that you should feed your puppy and we will walk you through all of them. Most people will get their first bit of advice from the breeders.
Then there will be advice from friends and family. Of course, as soon as you post your new puppy there will be advice from social media followers and then there is the big one – advice from the internet.
The internet is full of dated conventional wisdom that they get from the previous guy that wrote the puppy blog. But science has moved on. Research has moved on. And if you read the same old thing, you will do the same old thing. Read the latest! Read what else has someone got to say? Who are they and what makes them say what they are saying? Are they backing up their claims with anything other than “I think so” or “everyone has always done it like this.”
Look for credibility, look for who is saying it, look for professionals, and look for holistic advice based on sound science. Pet food companies will say their food is the best. The Vets that sell it will say that it is the best. The breeder will say this is what I have always done… But what’s always been done has led to an epidemic of cancer, obesity, diabetes, organ failure, congenital heart diseases, and Inflammatory joint conditions. So perhaps it’s time to not do what has always been done, and do what research is now showing that should be done. Are you prepared for the new puppy?
I hope that you did some research into a puppy and what it entails before you got the puppy home, or perhaps this is your research.

Carbohydrates (grains and starches) can be completely eliminated from your dog’s diet and form a very small part of it in the form of some really nutritious vegetables.

“I founded Doggiliciouus so I could start making a difference to more dogs than just mine! I continue to learn various aspects of holistic health management, dog behaviour, body language, natural remedies for pain management, including aromatherapy for dogs, and try to evolve so I can aim to bring the best of what I know to the life of each dog I work with.” – Manssi Saha

Nutritionally what you need in your home to be able to feed the puppy right and help them grow up strong is most likely already there. Since we are in India, and there is a vast majority of vegetarians, it is possible that home-cooked diets will not provide your puppy with the protein needs that dogs have. Vegetarian sources of protein provide very little protein at the cost of very high carbohydrate consumption in the process. For example, lentils and pulses are considered high protein. And that is a very relative term because compared to chicken it is a negligible amount of protein.
However, in order to get that 5 gm of protein, one must consume upwards of 70% of the calories in the form of carbohydrates. So when you look at the meal structure of let’s say Daal + Rice/oats + Veggies + some paneer (Indian Cottage cheese) with some coconut oil or ghee, it will look something like this – 75-80% carbohydrates, 5-8% protein, 5-10% fats and 5-6% fiber. THIS is not a good diet for dogs. Certainly not for growing pups. What it should look like at a minimum is 20-30% Protein, 10-20% Healthy Fats, 10- 15% Fibre, and only 25-30% Carbohydrates. Having said this, Carbohydrates (grains and starches) can in fact be completely eliminated from your dog’s diet and form a very small part of it in the form of some really nutritious vegetables.
Nutrition in puppyhood Let’s look at the macros and what they do in the body, and then look at the growth stage of a puppy and see what they “need” during this stage.
Carbohydrates – Dogs actually have a small need for complex carbohydrates for brain function, which is easily achieved with vegetables. It is true that they have genetically adapted to producing more Amaltyse (an enzyme that helps break down carbohydrates) than their ancestors would have produced to digest carbohydrates. And more often than not, this is looked at as a need for carbohydrates. What we have to look at is, why this mutation happened when dogs started living with humans and were fed on scraps. This was a mutual benefit relationship and as the dogs lost their inclination to hunt, and they started living exclusively with humans, they also had to survive on whatever food the humans could spare them. Starving to death would have made the species extinct. So they evolved and mutated. But their bodies did not mutate or evolve to have any real need for large amounts of carbohydrate/starch, and neither did they evolve to stop needing protein. I know this story is a little like… “Yes this is true, but this, and but that!” and it may leave you, the reader, wondering what to make of it. So bear with me and I hope to make things clearer.
So what does all this carbohydrate do inside the dog’s body? It primarily does what it does inside our bodies. It spikes insulin, converts into glucose (sugar), some gets used as immediate energy, most, however, is stored in the muscles and liver as glycogen. These glycogen stores are little packets of energy available to the body as and when they are needed at a later date. However, as the dog’s body will prefer protein and fat as a primary source of energy, these little packets almost always go unused, and often there are way too many of them to be used anyway. Eventually, through a process called De Novo-lipogenesis they are converted into fat because fat stores have a much longer shelf life, and the liver and muscles then go on to store new little glycogen packets that keep coming in with every meal. Making sense so far? This is my biggest concern with dogs on a high carbohydrate diet. Sooner or later we will end up with fat dogs. Which is what we have today world over. Excess weight and obesity are an epidemic. Because processed food is very high in carbohydrates and so is unbalanced fresh food.
Protein: Now coming to protein, what does protein do in your dog’s body? Protein is the building block of everything inside the body. It builds muscles, connective tissues, ligaments, tendons, hair follicles, and nails. When we read this, most people do not understand the vast expanse protein covers in our bodies – Muscles are connective tissue, the skin is connective tissue. It is found everywhere in the body between organs, including the nervous system. Ligaments are a form of connective tissue that is elastic and binds bones to other bones forming a joint, and tendons are connective tissue that binds joints to muscles and keeps them in place, keeping them mobile; so fairly important I’d say. (How important are strong ligaments and tendons in arthritis and HD?) Hair is made up of a type of protein, think about that the next time your dog’s hair is not soft and shiny. Protein is essential for life itself. When we think about a growing baby or puppy, needless to say that their need for protein is fairly high.
Fats: If you thought that protein is everywhere in the body due to connective tissue, fat is in every single cell membrane! No one needs to be told that a healthy cell membrane is the very foundation of a healthy body. Unhealthy cell membranes will effectively make the whole body, including organs unhealthy since they replicate themselves and all their imperfections. Fats are dangerous when they are not good fats, and with the entry of “refined” fats, the whole world was thrown into a whirlwind of bad fats. Fats also need to be fresh. Stored fats over time get oxidized and go rancid. Rancid fats can cause a lot of damage to the body at a cellular level. This is why you don’t want to feed Kibble with “added Omega 3” and so on!
All in all – fats are super important, Good fats are important – fresh fats are important! The top five types of fats that your puppy absolutely needs to grow up healthy and stay healthy are:
#1 Linoleic Acid (LA) LA is an Omega-6 fat, found in hempseed, soybean, safflower oils. Deficiency of LA is linked to coat and skin issues and can make your dog sluggish.
#2 Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) ALA is an Omega-3 fat found in flaxseed, chia seed, hemp seed and walnut oils. Dogs primarily use ALA to make EPA and DHA, which are essential for body, brain and eye health.
#3 Arachidonic Acid (AA) AA is an Omega-6 fat found in meat, poultry and eggs. AA is a brain fat and lack of AA in a puppy’s diet can have a serious impact on cognitive development. Found in all meat, chicken, eggs, and fish are particularly high in it.
#4 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) EPA is an Omega-3 fat found in oily fish like salmon, herring and sardines. EPA is considered a powerful anti-inflammatory fatty acid.
#5 Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) DHA is an Omega-3 fat, also found in oily fish. DHA is essential for the brain and eyes. This is a Polyunsaturated Fatty acid, and they are all fragile. They must be protected from oxidation or they can do more harm than good to your dog.
Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are called the macros of nutrition. These are the three major categories that our foods fall into. With this brief, albeit simplistic explanation, we can see how each of them behaves in the body, and the functions they carry out. Puppies are building their whole body and getting bigger essentially with the help of protein. The quality of the build, as we all know, depends on the quality and quantity of the raw material. Bad quality protein, just builds a bad quality structure. Kibble is a bad quality protein. Fats not only need to be good quality but also fresh. And there really needs to be a well balanced mix of the five types of essential fatty acids. These fatty acids also help utilise fat-soluble vitamins from the food.
What is the impact of bad nutrition on puppies?
I kind of feel like this is covered, but just to sum it up, I’d like to say that the impact of bad nutrition is like sentencing your dog’s body at a cellular level to nutritional deprivation. I do not know how to say more, so I will quote Dr Karen Becker, who is the world’s most followed Holistic Vet, who has spent a fair few years doing “conventional practice” till she realised how wrong it all was. And has now spent several years educating people about the importance of holistic natural wellness for dogs and cats. In one of her Vlogs, about dogs on a vegetarian diet, she says “ …Some animals can be nutritionally abused more than others. For instance, a hummingbird. If you were to feed it anything other than nectar, the bird will die in 24 hours! But dogs are super resilient. And one can nutritionally abuse them and they don’t die instantaneously, but their bodies degenerate over time. And because they can take the abuse, it does not make it ok to not feed them their speciesappropriate diets.”
The writer is a Canine Nutritionist and Founder & CEO, Doggiliciouus
Web: www.doggiliciouus.com
Insta Handle: @Doggiliciouus
Facebook: www.facebook.com/doggiliciouus
Email: Woof@doggiliciouus.com
Whatsapp: 9980018461

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Be a Pet Parent, Not a Pet Owner

Life is turned upside down and becomes a nightmare for an abandoned dog who can’t trust and survive easily on his own. For us, he might be a part of our life. But for him, it’s his whole life!

Covid has been harsh for humans but worse for the voiceless. Several pets have been either abandoned and left on the streets to fend for themselves or given up to overcrowded animal shelters. While many thought it appropriate to get a pet during the first lockdown, the same went scurrying to get rid of the poor things during the second lockdown. Some very lame and common excuses given are pet owners going back to their hometowns due to unemployment, absence of house help and the fear of Covid infection being carried through the pets. The shelters are receiving more abandoned pets than ever before. It’s time people realise that a dog that has gone through shelter is like a man who has gone through prison. Broken to the core!

Dr. Sandeep Yadav

Dr. Sandeep Yadav
S.K.R.D. veterinary Hospital
Gurugram 9911116896

“An abandoned dog is left to beg for food and water all the time. It’s a miserable life for the voiceless, broken hearted dog who is exhausted and just breathing.”

 

Dr. Anil Gangwar

Dr. Anil Gangwar
Dog and Cat Clinic
Bareilly 9039210337

“Mental state of a deserted dog is somewhat similar to a Covid positive person, who remains inside a room most of the day, misses his friends and family, boredom taking a toll, lonely, depressed, confused, stressed and scared”

 

Dr. Anirudh Mittal

Dr. Anirudh Mittal
Pupkitt Per care
Ludhiana (Punjab)
9781318341

The loopholes and loose corners in animal laws allow the pet owners to keep or dump pets as per their wishes. People dump the canine companions without realising that life without owners is a great stress for a dog and it is not the worst problem for the domesticated animals, who suffer thirst, hunger, diseases and are left to fend for themselves.

Nevertheless, it is the stress of being abandoned we are going to talk about in this article, because veterinarians and dog fanciers know a lot about restoring the physical form of an animal, but not much about how to cure its battered psyche. As Dr. Sandeep Yadav of SKRD Vet, Gurugram explains, “Mental state of a deserted dog is somewhat similar to a Covid positive person which is stuck inside a room most of the day, misses his friends and family, boredom taking a toll, lonely, depressed, confused, stressed and scared. In addition to all this a deserted dog is left to beg for food and water all the time. It’s a miserable life you can say. A broken hearted dog is exhausted and just breathing.”

Experts say the minimum period for development of an adult dog’s attachment to its parent is two weeks which lasts a lifetime. It is the strength of the emotional bond that a dog feels more confident and courageous with its parents around. It is more active, looks and sniffs around more often in the presence of its parents. It would approach strangers and other dogs. And like a child would shun food and water if the pet parents are gone for too long.

“Normally pets like to live with their family. If his owner has deserted him then we find so many effects,” says Dr Anil Gangwar. “He will leave his food and water. barking unnecessarily, feeling confused about being left behind . He would suffer from grief, depression, emotional pain, fear, sickness, post-traumatic stress disorder and at times may also die from injuries. Animal welfare laws in many states of the United States have declared it a crime to abandon a pet.”

Dogs are different from all other animals because of their incredible attraction to a person. Once alone in an unfamiliar place, the dog loses its safety net. In such a situation the dog spends much less time exploring the surrounding area, is still for longer periods of time, and is howling or barking most of the time trying to look for his pet parent or attempting to escape from the enclosed space.

Dr Aniruddha Mittal agrees. He says, “Be a pet parent, don’t just be a pet owner. This is the first line that a person needs to understand before getting a pet at home and the responsibilities that come with that little creature. Either treat him as your own kid whom you can never plan to leave, no matter how difficult the circumstances might be or don’t destroy life at all. That fur baby is now used to that unconditional love and care. Life is now turned upside down and becomes a nightmare for him. He can’t trust and survive easily. It might take him days, weeks, or even months to recover from that separation anxiety. Some dogs just don’t recover at all. For us, he might be a part of our life. But for him, it’s his whole life!”

Although most dogs can get attached to a new owner there is a suggestion that the number of attachment bonds is limited – only 3-4 during a lifetime. So what will happen if a dog changes home for the fifth, sixth or seventh time? No specific research has been carried out on this subject. There is certain information on the dogs becoming cowardly, avoidant, and prone to sudden panic attacks. Typically, this behavior of the dog is explained by cruelty of dogs’ previous owners or shelter employees. But such problems occur even if dogs have been treated gently and with patience. Unfortunately, this question has not been answered yet, hopefully it will be clarified in future.

Reasons for abandoning a dog.
In 1998, US researchers conducted the first detailed study of the phenomenon of giving up a dog. The results unraveled 71 reasons for making such a decision. The most common reasons are below:

  • Moving to another city or country
  • Expensive (medical) dog treatment
  • Requirement of the rented accommodation owner
  • The dog is being aggressive to owners or strangers
  • Cost of maintenance of the animal
  • Lack of time
  • Too many animals in the house
  • Illness or death of the dog’s owner
  • Owners’ personal problems
  • Overcrowded house or other related inconveniences
  • Untidiness of the dog in the house
  • The dog damages furniture
  • Disobedience
  • Dog’s enmity towards other animals in the house
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Fostering reduces stress levels in dogs: Study

Research team tracked the stress level of 207 dogs.

Agency, April 7, 2019:  Is your canine friend nervous? Sleepovers and foster care homes could help reduce their stress level, says a new study.

The findings, published in the journal PeerJ, indicate that short-term fostering temporarily reduces cortisol (stress hormone) levels and increases rest in shelter dogs.“We are trying to improve the lives of shelter dogs by helping them find loving homes,” said co-author Clive Wynne, Professor at the Arizona State University in the US.

According to the lead researcher, Lisa Gunter from the varsity, the sleepovers were like a weekend away from work as they provided a short break from the stress of living in a shelter.

Sleepover or fostering refers to bringing in a dog at home for a while with the goal of nurturing them. For the study, the research team tracked 207 dogs’ stress level by measuring cortisol before, during and after sleepovers.

Even though the five participating shelters were very different, the cortisol levels for all the dogs decreased during a sleepover. When the dogs returned to the shelter, their cortisol levels were the same as before, the team said. “It was an open question if it would be stressful for dogs to come back to the shelter after being away for a weekend but because of this study, we know a sleepover is a very welcome break,” said Debbie McKnight, Vice President at the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) in the US.

AHS was one of the five shelters that participated in the study. Because sleepovers reduced the dogs cortisol levels and increased their time at rest, shelters that do not currently have short-term foster programmes should give sleepovers a try, Gunter suggested.

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A Peek into 143rd Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

 

Yogi, a soft coated wheaten Terrier, is seen during masters agility preliminaries at the 143rd  Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

 

Hairy beauty Nadia , Lowchen, is seen wandering during the meet the breed.

 

An old sheepdog during the meet the breeds. 

Siberian husky is seen during meet the breeds in 143rd  Annual Westminster Kennel club Dog show, reported by USA Today.

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This dog groomer turns pups into perfectly manicured fluff balls — and the photos will make you so happy

It’s not every day that you come across a dog that looks like a sheep.

It’s not every day that you come across a dog that looks like a sheep. But for dog groomer Yoriko Hamachiyo, it’s not all that unusual. Hamachiyo owns a dog salon called Yorikokoro in Japan that produces delightfully fluffy pooches.

The work this groomer does is astounding. In fact, it’ll make you want to travel all the way to Japan just so Hamachiyo can do your hair. If you don’t believe us now, you will after scrolling through the below photos of perfectly manicured pups.

Often, the dogs come out of the salon unrecognizable from their former selves. We’re not sure how Hamachiyo managed to make this look cool, but he did.

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Anger Management

I have a German Shepherd, who is two years old now and he loves people but is terrified of dogs. Lately he has been showing aggression to children. He’s nipping, snarling and even lunging at kids who try to pet or play with him. He’s never shown this kind of aggression before and I don’t know what to do. Is it because he isn’t fixed? I need help. If this problem isn’t foxed soon I could get complaints or he could hurt a kid: my worst fear. Please give me your opinions.
– Rohit Aggarwal, Kolkata

We are sorry to hear that you are experiencing this serious issue: if your dog is aggressive towards children you are dealing with the most serious issue possible. The key to gradually stopping this behaviour is to figure out the cause of it (most likely fear, possibly developing from the fear with dogs). The first thing we would do is take your dog to the vet ASAP to have a thorough check up to eliminate any health issue. Some dogs act out because of pain or illness, so if this is the case it needs to be addressed. Your vet will be able to speak about neutering. There is some connection between neutering and behaviour, but it doesn’t guarantee “stopping” aggression. It’s actually quite unlikely neutering will eliminate a problem that is established and growing like this – even if it decreases somewhat you will definitely need to address this with a trainer assuming the aggression isn’t due to an injury or illness. We would also recommend speaking to your vet about a safe and appropriate muzzle to have your dog wear until the behaviour is addressed. There are serious legal liabilities for you having a dog who has these known issues (even unknown ones), and obviously you also do not want anyone to be hurt. Please, your #1 priority is to keep your dog away from children and other dogs and muzzled because you have a known nipper and lunger. If your dog is healthy, then we absolutely without a doubt urge you to work with a professional trainer/ behaviourist to sort out the route of this issue, and devise an action plan to address it. You are dealing with a serious problem, and it would need to be addressed with a professional that has experience in addressing these things. Even after working on the issue, know that life going forward may involve not having your dog meet children… and this is OK. Some dogs are simply nervous around strange humans (especially children), and we do not let them interact directly – this is a life-long plan. It’s much better than risking a bite. But a behaviorist can hopefully help you get to a point where your dog is not as dangerous, and that’s worth every penny and minute of effort.

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A Bite Out of the Blue

I have grown up listening to stories and watching films about how Golden Retrievers are such a friendly breed until Austin, who lives in the same gated community as me, suddenly bit me on my hand when I tried to pat him. He was wagging his tail and that bite came out of nowhere. What went wrong?
– Krish Khanna, Noida

You’ll often hear that a previously friendly dog suddenly bit a person “out of nowhere.” But did he really? Or did stressors pile up till the dog just broke? Two sentences dog trainers and behaviour consultants hear pretty much every week of their lives, which you have also mentioned: “But he was wagging his tail!” and “The bite came out of nowhere!” We have often highlighted the fact that most dogs speak clearly with their bodies; many humans need some help with the translation. To understand what a dog is communicating, look at more than one body part, and at the body as a whole. Body weight forward indicates likely approach; body weight back suggests the dog would prefer to retreat. The higher a dog carries himself, and the stiffer and more tense his muscles, the more amped he is. A tense dog isn’t necessarily about to aggress, but proceed with caution unless you know him well.

What Does a Tense Tail Mean?

A high, tense body often goes with a high, tight, stiff tail held in a C curve. But all curved tails are not alike. Some tails are set relatively high on the dog’s back, or hold a C curve even when the dog’s relaxed. And there’s a good rule of thumb: the stiffer and more still the dog and his tail, the more careful you should be. Avoid engagement until you see the dog relax. Even then, consider what the dog was so tense about and how quickly he settles down. But keep your distance from any dog who’s holding his tail high, tight, and stiff, and who has oriented toward you. Also, many dogs in a state of great excitement or tension will lash out at anyone who touches them. So, even if you know the dog, keep some air between you till he settles down. Stay back from a tense, high-standing dog whose tight, high tail is moving slowly back and forth. That is the classic “But he was wagging his tail!” position; a dog who’s approached when sending this offensive signal is probably going to lunge, at the very least, if you come closer. Obviously, it’s harder to read a tail that isn’t there; the best you can do is watch the position and movement of the stump. A friendly wag — unmistakably friendly — often involves the dog’s whole back end. His tail moves sweepingly back and forth. If he’s really excited about the person he’s greeting, he may even wag in big, fast circles. Butt wiggles also come into play. The whole friendly-dog package usually includes a slightly lowered body, open mouth, squinty eyes, and ears somewhat back. This dog might knock you down if he’s overexcited, big, and unmannerly, but otherwise his body language is about as close as you can get to a safety guarantee. Bear in mind that you should evaluate each context individually, though. A dog who’s friendly on the street may snarl and lunge when you come through his front door. And the dog who barks at passersby through the partly open window of a parked car may be thrilled to see those very same people as soon as his owner lets him out. What about a lowered tail? Sometimes it just means that the dog is super relaxed. But a dog whose tail is clamped down, maybe even tucked between his back legs, is not having a good time. If you’re just meeting a shy or fearful dog, resist any temptation to get close and comfort him. A fearful dog may explode if he feels cornered. Instead, let him check you out at his own pace — just hang out quietly as if he’s not there. You can watch his tail and other body language to let you know when he’s ready to make friends.

Bite Out of Nowhere

Aggressive behavior is normal. It’s normal for humans, it’s normal for chimpanzees, and it’s normal for dogs to protect their resources and themselves against perceived threats. Not only is aggressive behavior normal; it’s a truism that any dog, if pushed far enough, will bite. The real question is what constitutes pushing far enough. The answer varies from dog to dog, and that’s where the “bite threshold model” comes in. The eminent dog trainer Jean Donaldson describes the bite threshold in her book The Culture Clash. A dog who perceives a threat experiences stress, and as stressors accumulate, the dog gets closer and closer to his individual breaking point – the “threshold” at which he aggresses. Here’s an example. Let’s say Austin’s family doesn’t often have new visitors or take him for walks in public places, and he’s gotten a bit shy around strangers. Since he never sees any, so no one has noticed that he’s now anxious around them. So what happens when you gaze into his eyes before patting him? He tries to get away from it all by biting on the hand that gets close to him. Again, individual dogs vary – some dogs reach their breaking point and will bite readily once they’ve been pushed far enough to growl. Others will stick with the growl even as stressor after stressor piles on. The most important thing to remember is that your dog may need your extra guidance and protection at times when multiple stressors are at work. And bear in mind that the physiological effects of a stressful experience can linger.

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